Method of packing

ABSTRACT

As a method of packing, an article to be packed is roughly packed by a packing film with thermal contractibility; a band or strip like film, which may be adherent to the packing film by heat fusion, is temporarily attached to the packing film around its outer surface; and the packing film is brought into close contact with the article to be packed by utilization of the thermal contractibility of the packing film. In this case, the softening and expansion of the packing film, immediately before the packing film starts its thermal contraction during a single heating process, causes the adhesion between the packing film and the band or strip like film.

United States Patent [191 Yano [ Sept. 23, 1975 Yoshiaki Yano, Tokyo, Japan [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 29, 1972 Japan 47-98465 [52] U.S. Cl 53/14; 53/30; 93/1 TS; 206/497 [51] Int. Cl B65b 61/18 [58] Field of Search 53/14, 30 S, 133, 184 S; 93/1 TS; 206/497; 229/51 AS, 66, DIG. 12; 156/85 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,088,379 5/1963 Dickinson 93/1 TS X 3,123,955 3/1964 Weissensee.... 53/30 S 3,187,982 6/1965 Underwood 229/51 AS 3,399,506 9/1968 Howe 53/30 S X 3,456,780 7/1969 Forhan.... 229/51 AS 3,520,469 7/1970 Marx 229/5 1 AS 3,528,601 9/1970 Mikio lto 229/51 AS X 3,557,516 1/1971 Brandt 53/14 3,687,352 8/1972 Kalajian... 229/51 AS X 3,779,139 12/1973 White 93/1 TS Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner.lohn Sipos Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT As a method of packing, an article to be packed is roughly packed by a packing film with thermal contractibility; a band or strip like film, which may be adherent to the packing film by heat fusion, is temporarily attached to the packing film around its outer surface; and the packing film is brought into close contact with the article to be packed by utilization of the thermal contractibility of the packing film. In this case, the softening and expansion of the packing film, immediately before the packing film starts its thermal contraction during a single heating process, causes the adhesion between the packing film and the band or strip like film.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures .US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,906,702

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of;

METHOD or PACKING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a method of packing, and more particularly to a method of packing in which an article to be packed ispacked by a packing film with thermal contractibility, and the packing film is placed in close contact with the article to be packed by heating.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art, one known method is to pack an article in a thermal contractile film for protecting the article from moisture, dusts and the like. In such a method, it has been suggested that after the thermal contractile film has wrapped the article, it is subject to a heating process to be contracted so as to be in close contact with the article. When the article packed with the film is used, it is necessary to cut the film with a knife or the like, which is troublesome. Further, it is likely that the article packed with the film may be injured by the knife or the like. 7

Another packing method has been proposed, in which a band like film is fixed to a packing cellophane sheet by an adhesive agent, and the article to be packed is packed by the cellophane sheet with the band like film on the inside ofthe cellophane sheet, and then the packing cellophane sheet is closed by an adhesive agent. In this case, one end portion of the band like film is exposed to the outside of the cellophane sheet. Upon using the article packed by the cellophane sheet, the exposed end of the band film is pulled .to open the packing formed by the cellophane sheet.

With such a packing method, since an adhesive agent is necessary, the packing of the article becomes expensive. Further, the process for applying the adhesive agent, the process for fixing the band like film to the cellophane sheet and the process for closing the open end portions of the cellophane sheet by the adhesive agent after the article has been wrapped with the cellophane sheet are additionally required, which is complicatcd.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method of packing according to this invention comprises such steps that'an article tobe packed is packed or wrapped with a packing film having thermal contractibility, then the packing film is sealed, a band or strip like film which can be fixed to the packing film in heat fusion is temporarily attached to the packing film, and then they are heated at a predetermined temperaturc, whereby the packing film is brought into close contact with the article to be packed and at the same time the strip or band like film adheres to the packing film by heat fusion.

Accordingly. it is an object of this invention to provide a novel method of packing free from the drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel method of packing in which a band or strip like film is fixed to a packing film without any troublesome processes. I 7

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel method of packing by which-a packed article can be opened by pulling an exposed end of a band like film without using a tool such as a knife or the like.

It is a yet further object of the invention to provide a novel method of packing which prevents a packing film from being bulky evenif a-band like film is fixed to the packing film.

Other and additional objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disassembled record jacket to which the packing method of this invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a record jacket wrapped with a packing film;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the record jacket shown in FIG. 2 in which a band like film is roughly attached to the packing film;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the record jacket which is completely packed by the method of the invention;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, inclusive, are enlarged crosssectional views of a part of the record jacket used for explaining the heat fusion adhesion of the band like film to the packing film and the thermal contraction of the latter;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view used for explaining the unsealing of the completely packed record jacket;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an example of the band like film used in the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cardboard case or carton which is completely packed by the packing method of the invention and in which articles packed by the packing method of this invention are accommodated. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, an example of the packing method according to this invention will be hereinbelow described, in which a record jacket is perfectly sealed or packed by the packing method of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a record jacket 1 generally consists of a thin square record jacket proper 4, which has formed along its upper end edge an opening 2 and accommodated therein a record 3, and a grip or cover 7 which has a pair of gripping members 5 and 6 and grips the opening 2 of the record jacket proper 4 to seal the latter.

When the record jacket 1 is packed or wrapped, it is roughly wrapped with a packing film 8 and then the packing film 8 is scaled up. The packing film 8 is desired to be made of such a synthetic resin that it is transparent or semi-transparent for viewing the record jacket 1 therethrough and has at least thermal contractibility. As an example of such a packing film with thermal contractibility, a polyethylene film can be used. The polyethylene film also has heat fusion property. In the drawing, reference numerals 9 and 10 indicate heat sealed portions of the packing film 8, respectively.

As. shown in FIG. 3, a band or strip like film 11 is temporarily attached to the packing film 8 along a desired line on the outer surface of the latter. The strip 11 may be made of the material the same-as that of the packing film 8, but the material of the strip 11 is not needed to be limited to the same material as that of the packing film.

It is enough for the temporary attaching of the strip 11 to the packing film 8 that the strip 11 be wound around the packing film 8 and both of its ends tied together. However, in this example, the strip 11, which is formed to be a ring by heat-sealing both ends of the strip 11 at a heat-seal portion 12 as shown in FIG. 7, is used. In this case, one end portion 11a of the ring strip 11 is left free as a tip which will be used for opening the sealed packing. The thus formed ring strip 11 is attached to the packing film 8 on its outer surface. It is possible that the ring strip 11 may be formed to have a size slightly larger than that of the packing film 8 covering the record jacket 1 loosely, but it is preferred that the ring strip 11 is of a size to be attached firmly to the packing film 8 (or that the packing film 8 be gathered by the ring strip 11 when the latter is attached to the former).

The above description is given for the case where the strip 11 is temporarily attached to the packing film 8 after the latter has been scaled to encase the record jacket 1, but it is also possible that the strip 11 be temporarily attached to the packing film 8 and thereafter the packing film 8 sealed.

After the pre-treatment of the packing process has been finished as described above, they are heated by means of heating furnace or other suitable heating means to cause the thermal contraction of the packing film 8 and strip 11 and hence to cause the packing film 8 to come into close contact with the record jacket 1, as shown in FIG. 4.

In this case, the packing film 8 and the strip 11 are contracted at temperature of, for example, about 200C. However, at the temperature immediately before that where contraction starts, for example, at the temperature of about 100C, the packing film 8 and the strip 11 are softened. In other words, the packing film 8, which is of a shape as shown in FIG. A before it is heated, is expanded at temperature of about 100C due to the expansion of the sealed air therein which is heated and then is made to contact with the strip 11, as shown in FIG. 58. At this temperature the packing film 8 and the strip 11 are both softened, so that they adhere to each other. Thereafter, as the temperature increases by further heating, both the packing film 8 and the strip 11 are contracted. When the temperature arrives at, for example, about 200C, the packing film 8 and the strip 11 are contracted completely as shown in FIG. 5C and they come into close contact with the record jacket 1 to seal up the same perfectly.

When it is desired to open the package, the end portion 11a of the strip 11 is pulled manually in the direction indicated by an arrow a shown in FIG. 6, and the packing film 8 is cut out along the strip 11 since the strip 11 firmly adheres to the packing film 8, as described above.

A description will be now made with reference to FIG. 8 for the case where the packing method of this invention is applied to a cardboard box or a carton 15, in which articles or goods (not shown), for example, are accommodated.

The articles or goods are first inserted into the cardboard box 15 and then the cardboard box 15 is roughly wrapped by a packing film 18. The other processes are carried out in the same manner as that described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 7 to completely pack or seal the cardboard box 15 with the packing film 18 and a strip 21 is also attached to the packing film 18 firmly. When the packing is opened, it is su fficient to pull a free end portion 21a of the strip 21 as in the foregoing 5 case.

As described above, with this invention the packing film is brought into close contact with the article to be packed by utilizing the thermal contractibility of the packing film when it is heated, and the band or strip attached to the outer surface of the packing film temporarily adheres to the packing film firmly by the softening thereof immediately before the packing film starts its thermal contraction. Thus, the packing can be carried out at the time that the packing film is in close contact with the article to be packed.

Further, when the packing which is achieved by this invention is opened, by pulling the free end of the strip or band the packing film can be easily cut out along the adhesion line of the strip to the packing film without injuring the article.

In addition, according to this invention, only one heating process is enough to achieve both of the thermal contraction of the packing film and the adhesion of the strip to the packing film, so that the packing work becomes simple and thus improves the packing efficiency.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations and changes could be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of packing an article which includes:

a. wrapping the article to be packed with a packing film of synthetic resin which has thermal contractability;

b. closing and sealing the wrapping in said packing film;

c. temporarily attaching a strip film to said packing film;

d. expanding the air sealed in said packing film by heating to cause said packing film to adhere to said strip film before contraction of the packing film; and

e. thereafter contracting said packing film with said strip film into close contact with said article to be packed by thermal contraction of said packing film by continued heating.

2. The method of packing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said packing film and said strip film are made of the same material. I

3. The method of packing as set forth in claim 2, wherein said material of said packing film and said strip film is polyethylene.

4. The method of packing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip film is wound around said packing film and temporarily attached to the latter by tying the both ends of said strip film.

SQ'Ihc method of packing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip film is formed as a ring and said packing film is inserted into said ring film to be temporarily attached thereto.

6. The method of packing as set forth in claim I, wherein said strip film has a tip end for pulling.

7. The method of packing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said packing film is sealed closed after it has wrapped said article.

8. The method of packing an article according to claim 1, in which said strip film is formed of thermally contractible material. 

1. The method of packing an article which includes: a. wrapping the article to be packed with a packing film of synthetic resin which has thermal contractability; b. closing and sealing the wrapping in said packing film; c. temporarily attaching a strip film to said packing film; d. expanding the air sealed in said packing film by heating to cause said packing film to adhere to said strip film before contraction of the packing film; and e. thereafter contracting said packing film with said strip film into close contact with said article to be packed by thermal contraction of said packing film by continued heating.
 2. The method of packing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said packing film and said strip film are made of the same material.
 3. The method of packing as set forth in claim 2, wherein said material of said packing film and said strip film is polyethylene.
 4. The method of packing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip film is wound around said packing film and temporarily attached to the latter by tying the both ends of said strip film.
 5. The method of packing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip film is formed as a ring and said packing film is inserted into said ring film to be temporarily attached thereto.
 6. The method of packing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip film has a tip end for pulling.
 7. The method of packing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said packing film is sealed closed after it has wrapped said article.
 8. The method of packing an article according to claim 1, in which said strip film is formed of thermally contractible material. 